The National tribune., 1887-02-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP,
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital


SENATOR JAMES +. WILSON,
OF Iowa, speaking Of pension legislation, said to
me: " cannot for the life of me understand the
Antipathy some Congressman have 10 pensions,
The very mention OF pensions seems 10 be TO
them like a red flag 10 bull. Yet they are
men who insist that the very last cent OF the
last dollar should be paid 10 bondholders. i
think that the debt 90 the soldiers is quite rs
sacred 20 say the least, as that 10 the money
lenders. Some of the freaks OF this opposition
are very dissatisfying. For example, there is
a lady from my State who did a work for the
soldiers that was beyond all praise. She col
lected and took TO the front great quantities OF
comforts and delicacies that were needed by
the sick in hospitals. She would have them
loaded into cars and ride with them as far as
the cars would take them, and then would
transfer them TO a boat and again ride with
them until she reached places where they were
needed when she would personally attend 10
their distribution, making sure that they
reached the men who should have them, She
was untiringi in this work and as a nurse. There
is no telling how many lives she saved nor how
many bows she returned 10 the field cured
who would never have been able 70 go back but
for her care and ministmtions She broke her
health down in this labor. She is now old and
dependent. j have tried hard TO get her de-
cent pension, but there is always some mean
bubble or objection raised TO cut her allow
anee down TO q beggarly rate"
THE LIBBY ELEPHANT.
Comrade Frank Il. Moran gave an amusing
account at the Campfire of the Prisoners of
War in this city of the famous Libby Prison
elephant, which was gotten up by the officers
confined there 10 while away the tedious hours
of the Winter of 1864. The right foreleg was
Major of infantry, the left Captain OF cav
airy, the right hindleg an artillery Lieutenant,
and a Surgeon formed the remaining limb.
The body was made of blankets sewed together,
and the animal was taught TO perform many
entertaining and amusing tricks upon little
stage erected in one corner Of the room Tor
minstrel performances and amateur theatricals.
One night the two hindlegs were too i'll TO APP
pear and their places were taken by two I'M
trained volunteers. The elephant went through
his amusing tricks fairly well until the signal
was given for him TO go Off the stage Then
there was a visible disturbance in the huge
body
"rhe elephants sick, shouted some of the
spectators.
Hes got fit: hunt your holes" shouted
Others
The commissions became worse and worse,
until at last the spectators were Mortified by
seeing the huge animal burst asunder and each
of the four legs march off the stage ia differ
ent direction.
GEN. HAZEN's DEATH.
al have been surprised at no death re-
as that Of Gen. Hazen. he always seemed the
very personifcation Of strong virile manhood.
He appeared capable of anything that man
could do, and fully expected him TO reach 80"
Perhaps he made the common mistake Of
very strong men," ii was suggested, and broke
himself down by oyer-exertion and some form
of excess"
mo indeed, he did not" the General re-
piled. "He was temperate in all things and
led as well-regulated a life as ever i knew.
he was a great economist of his time aud
energy. He calculated everything that he was
going TO do, and did il just as he laid out He
never allowed himself TO be unemployed and
had all his duties mapped out in advance. This
kept him from hurry and over-eKertion. Then
he was Of bright, jolly disposition that moth
ing could affect. IN the midst Of his contro-
versies with Others he was pleasant and
sunny in his social relations as ever. DO not
know how to account for his untimely taking
of"
PROUD TROPHY.
Last week Gen. w. 7. Clark, formerly Adju-
tant-GeneFal of the Army of the Tennessee.
visited the War Department for the purpose Of
securing the loan of rebel flag that came into
his possession on the 22d Of July, before At
lanta. He wanted il then as trophy he wants
ii now TO exhibit in Detroit in connection with
the Cyclorama OF Missionary Ridge, OF which
he is manager. IL was rather an unusual re-
quest 10 piOUGf, out htNcF some QGllluI ana a
prolonged search in the dusty, out-of-the-way
places TO which the captured rebel flags have
been consigned, il was found and handed over
30 him. IL was the flag of the 18th and 18th
Tex battalons. These organizations, which
were consolidated into one regiment, were cap
tured on the 22d of July, and handed their
banner over to Gen. Clark.
AN INTERESTING WAR RELIC.
Occupying prominent place in the residence
60 hu1 II GttHla 81 ~
erals Office in this city, is flag which has an
interesting history. Col. Cutler raised a COM
pany for the SD Ill. Ii was the first company
organized in the State under the Presidents
call for 100000 men in 1862, and in honor of
dissatisfaction the company was presented with
a fine flag by the ladies Of Monmouth, Ill The
company became the color company Of the
regiment The SD i'll. was prominently en-
gagged in the second battle of Fort Donelson.
Col. Cutters wife and few other ladies from
the North were there at the time. The regu-
lar Gags Of the regiment were carried by the
color company, but Mrs. Cutler took the flag
which had been presented TO the company,
went upon the field and waved the banner &c
encourage the boys. She was repeatedly fred
al aud finally withdrew and stationed herself
upon the upper deck of steamboat which was
lying at the landing. Here she staid pluckily
refusing 10 20 below She compelled q rebel
lady who was on the boat TO assist her in hold
AhE dHA hAAAhE NAB ASilihB utI bldl biz
was under its protection and must aid in keep
ing il floating. The Captain tried 10 compel
Mrs Cutler TO 60 below, as the waving OF The
flag was drawing the FIRE Of the enemy, but she
told him that flag would only go down with the
wreck of the steamboat
When the company was mustered out Of the
service its members held meeting and pre-
scented the flag 10 Mrs Cutler, by whom it hai
been carefully treasured as a sacred mementG
of the occasion.
Col. John A. Joyce, Of this city, learning o
the circumstances, dedicated the following line
10 Mrs Cutler:
She seized the flag and bore Il away
Prom the shells Of the rebel host,
Where Forrest and Wheeler fought that day
Round Donclson's bloody post.
Through Gre and smoke and laundering sound
She rushed from the sVcring land
And she made her way Go the boat with a bound
AZ Il rode on the Cumberland
From the topmost roof she waved the flag
And flung out its stripes on the air
Telling the traitors valley crRg
That the flag VI the Union therel
The firing has ceased, and the rebel crew
Have long since vanished away,
But the stars and Stripes of the boys in blue
Wave DER the Union to-day,
And the same old Gag the heroine held
Adorns hcr home Of peace;
The cause of the traitor Is dead and knelled,
And the Union shall never cease,
LoEG-LIvED YANKEES.
"You may say what you please" said Gen